The Aman sensibilities dovetail with the Bali vibe just perfectly. The comfort of cocooning in serenity, the luxury in beautiful simplicity… Amankila, perched on a verdant hillside with the vista of the royal blue waters of Indonesia’s Lombok Strait set before it, has it all and then some. Located beneath the active volcano Mount Agung, sacred to the locals, it seems to bear the blessings of the divine.
As we are transported to the East Bali resort in style and welcomed with true Balinese warmth into the spacious lobby made with all-natural local materials, we have a premonition that our stay is going to bring us the peace and ‘us time’ we seek.
The frangipani-lined walkways through the treetops are a delight, as are the glimpses of the three-tier infinity pool. The resort and its 34 free-standing villas were designed by architect Ed Tuttle, the same architect who created the first ever Aman (Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand).
Our Ocean Suite, built like a Balinese beach house on stilts, is cosily laid out with comfortable coconut shell and rattan furniture. It has expansive views of the Strait and the majestic ships on it. The design of the suite allows a beautiful symphony of the outdoors and indoors without boundaries.
Spacious (more than a 1000 square feet), it allows for true pampering with a canopied king-sized bed and a deep-soaking bathtub. If you’re not comfortable climbing a lot of steps to get to your villa, Amankila offers you the option of a few villas that are at the same level as the public areas.
The large and airy Restaurant is open-sided, offering untrammelled views of the seascape and a menu that has the best of Western and Balinese cuisine. Leading off it, the high-ceilinged Bar combines style and creativity and is a great place to truly unwind. A level below, the Terrace overlooks the pool that cascades through the property’s heart. We muse on how this would be the ideal location for an intimate party with friends the next time we visit.
Amankila has been around for three decades now but still feels so fresh, it can outdo any ultra-modern resort in a blink. Not that it’s competing. The Aman group is confident in their offerings. And we are too.
Our memorable day at Amankila
We start the day with the ultimate indulgence. The mountains and sea are still dreaming when we head up to a bale (Indonesian cabana) on Tamansari Hill. We’re there to enjoy a special breakfast treat as the dawn lights up the sky.
The panoramic view of the first rays of the sun on the slopes of Mount Agung and the rice terraces of the Buitan Valley are the perfect setting for the delicious petit dejeuner a deux served by our own personal butler. On another beautiful Bali morning, we luxuriate into the yoga rituals that feed the soul.
Later, the resort’s shuttle takes us around the Manggis and Candidasa area, allowing us to soak in the local scenery, visiting the temples of Luhur Lempuyang and Besakih, and the water palaces of Tirtagangga and Ujung.
On returning to Amankila a traditional afternoon tea is awaiting us. Served on banana leaf, it feels wholesome and nourishing, just like the smiles of the Balinese women serving it.
Early evening is best spent at the private beach club, set in a secluded area accessible by the resort’s door-free vehicles or a long flight of stairs. Imagine a palm-lined Olympic-sized pool just off the serene beach rich with glittering black volcanic sand, as the slanting sunrays add a golden sheen to everything they touch.
Just right for swimming, stand-up paddling, kayaking, or just daydreaming away the day’s exertions. The three pools above are also fabulous, lined with loungers and a well-stocked library close at hand.
That night, an elaborate dinner is arranged in a private pavilion, made even more delicious by the impeccable service.
Bidding Bali au revoir
The thing about Amankila, like all the Aman properties we’ve stayed at, is that it is eminently re-visitable, making it hard to pull yourself away and even harder to consider other resorts once you’ve been initiated into the Aman way of doing things.
The Ocean suite costs $2,000++ per night and comes with complimentary airport transfers. The Amankila is located in, Jl. Raya Manggis, Manggis, Kec. Manggis, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali.
Note – The writer was hosted at the Amankila, but all the opinions expressed herewith are his own.
